Service in the Guards reconnaissance battalion is about honour and responsibility

Here’s the history of establishment, operational record, and the present of 54 Prut-Pomeranian, Order of Alexander Nevsky, Bohdan Khmelnitsky, Mikhail Kutuzov (3rd Class) Guards reconnaissance battalion (separate).
Guard troops appeared in early times, when army’s most elite, combat-ready, well-armed and trained part was referred to as guards. Those troops were always assigned the most difficult missions during the war. The unit described below was established during the Great Patriotic War. The Guards title was bestowed upon the units that distinguished themselves in combat.

Note: the Guards were reinstated in the USSR on 18 September, 1941. That very same day, a number of units and formations were bestowed the Guards title for mass heroism, courage, and professionalism as decided by the Supreme High Command General Headquarters. Guards units were presented with Guards banners.

On 21 May, 1942, USSR Supreme Council established the “Guards” badge to be worn by Guards units’ personnel of the Soviet Army.

54 reconnaissance battalion (separate) began on 8 March, 1943, when Moscow armoured vehicle centre became base for the new 87 motorcycle battalion (separate). It was completely formed on 28 May, 1943.
The battalion was assigned to 2 tank army (2 TA), Central Front; it began operating near Ponyri station, Kursk-Orel line of Soviet troops advancement from 5 July, 1943. The battalion was successfully collecting data on the enemy formation enabling the 2 TA of an effective offensive. On 26 August, 1943, battalion’s personnel were the first soldiers to storm the town of Stary Sevsk helping its liberation by the Soviet troops. A significant number of enemy soldiers and materiel was destroyed.


2 TA was inactivated within the Supreme High Command General Headquarters reserve for roundout and reorganization after heavy fighting in September, 1943. According to new TOE, the battalion received a company of medium tanks on January 10, 1944.

On 18 January, 1944, 2 TA was assigned to 1st Ukrainian Front and took share of German counterattacks in Korsun-Shevchenkovski offensive.

2 TA was advancing towards the town of Uman in early April, 1944. 87 motorcycle battalion was responsible for providing intelligence on the enemy forces to army command. The battalion successfully balanced reconnaissance with maneuvers and raids. The unit approached the river Pivdenny Buh on 11 March, 1944. It operated on the front edge of the Soviet troops advancing off-the-road. On 15 March, 1944, while near the station of Vapnyarka, the battalion was dispatched to the town of Yampil and ordered to secure the crossing over the Dniester River and hold it until the arrival of 2 TA main forces.

The unit approached the outskirts of Yampil moving over 70 kilometers a day and dealing with enemy resistance. Early in the morning of March 17, battalion vehicles surged into the town. After two hours of street fighting, the scouts approached the river crossing and secured it.
In battles for Yampil while securing the river crossing, battalion’s fighters destroyed over 200 enemy personnel, captured 60 officers and soldiers and a significant amount of enemy weapons and materiel. The unit accomplished its mission with honor: the crossing has been secured; our troopers have crossed the Dniester and set up a beachhead on its right bank for Soviet forces’ future advancement.

In one continuing offensive motion, the battalion neared the border with Romania on the river Prut, crossed it to receive a new order – to collect intelligence on the Romanian town of Iasi.


The battalion fought in the Romanian territory up until June, 1944. Over the period of April – June, 1944, battalion’s personnel killed over 250 enemy soldiers and officers, destroyed two tanks, 4 APCs, 12 vehicles, 6 enemy bunkers; captured some 60 enemy personnel and a significant amount of enemy weapons and materiel.

2 TA was inactivated within the Supreme High Command General Headquarters reserve on 15 June, 1944 and assigned to the 1 Belarus Front.

During the Lublin-Brest offensive, 2 TA in cooperation with 8 Guards TA liberated the Polish cities of Lublin (24 July) and Demblin (25 July). The army approached the outskirts of Warsaw by late July and dealt with enemy counterattacks until 6 August.

2 TA was inactivated within the Supreme High Command General Headquarters reserve on 6 September, 1944 and assigned to the 1 Belarus Front once again on 30 October, 1944.

On 20 November, 1944, the Presidium of the USSR Supreme Council bestowed the “guards battalion” title upon the unit for its successful operations during the Lublin offensive. 2 TA was renamed into 2 Guards TA the same day.

2 GTA showed high mobility in the Warsaw-Poznan offensive: it fought through 700 kilometers from the Vistula to the Oder in just 15 days. The battalion performed the function of right-flank reconnaissance detachment and discovered an enemy formation near Warsaw.

The battalion was awarded the Order of Alexander Nevsky on 18 February, 1945 for operations against the German invaders, for participation in the liberation of Warsaw, and courage and heroism shown in action.

The unit operated on the army’s front edge during the Pomerania operation. It cut across the Netze River on 27 January, 1945, crossed the Polish-German border and was the first unit to enter the land of Pomerania. Continuing its mission, the battalion secured the crossing near the town of Nakel and entered the city by the end of the day on 3 February, 1945.
The unit proceeded to the enemy’s rear near the town of Sneidemol as ordered by the command of 2 GTA. After nearly 4 days in the enemy rear, the battalion returned to army base having suffered light casualties. Over that period, the unit’s personnel killed 650 and captured another 320 enemy soldiers; destroyed 11 airplanes, 8 tanks, 21 vehicles, 18 machineguns; captured 11 vehicles, 49 machineguns, 4 depots with food and uniforms. The unit lost 26 dead and 32 injured; 2 tanks, 16 motorcycles, an APC and a light vehicle.


On 12 April, 1945, the battalion was ordered to establish a mobile observation network along the Oder beachhead and run reconnaissance in Zelov – Dreitzen – Bat-Freinwalde direction in order to prevent the German troops from retreating to the north. The unit performed excellent.

The battalion was busy with various reconnaissance missions north of Berlin and in its outskirts from 20 April to 4 May, 1945. In general, 2 GTA demonstrated outstanding performance during the Berlin strategic offensive.

After the war, the battalion was re-assigned to the Carpathian military district.

On 1 June, 1953, 87 Guards motorcycle battalion (separate) was transformed into 16 Guards reconnaissance battalion (separate) while retaining its Prut-Pomeranian title and orders of Alexander Nevsky, Bohdan Khmelnitsky, and Mikhail Kutuzov.

In May, 1957, the unit was disbanded and 104 Guards reconnaissance company (separate) was established.

104 Guards reconnaissance company (separate) was reorganized into 54 Guards reconnaissance battalion (separate) which inherited all former titles and orders.
When Ukraine regained its independence, the unit was subordinated to the Minister of Defense of Ukraine and the unit’s personnel swore allegiance to the Ukrainian people. Since then, the battalion took part in numerous military exercises, always being highly appraised by higher commanders.

Noteworthy is the active participation of the unit’s personnel in peacekeeping operations conducted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 1992. The peacekeeping geography of 54 Guards reconnaissance battalion (separate) covers the Balkans, Africa, and the Middle East. Unit’s personnel were repeatedly distinguished by the Ukrainian leadership for their devoted service and professionalism demonstrated during peacekeeping operations. LTC Valentyn Tkach, 54 reconnaissance battalion commander was awarded the Order of Courage 3rd Class for his courage and dedication to the military duty and for his significant contribution to the cause of promoting peace and stability while serving in Iraq.


54 Prut-Pomeranian, Order of Alexander Nevsky, Bohdan Khmelnitsky, Mikhail Kutuzov (3rd Class) Guards reconnaissance battalion (separate) was recognized as the best reconnaissance battalion within the Ukrainian Ground Forces over the recent years.